Kentucky played with fire and finally got burned in deflating Ohio State loss

For better or worse, Kentucky lives comfortably in the danger zone. For whatever reason, the Wildcats just love digging holes that feel insurmountable in real time, coming out slow, sloppy and lethargic with poor defense and worse shooting. It leads to a double-digit deficit, like the one they found themselves in down ten in the closing minutes of the first half. It’s the same script that led to the team’s magical comeback wins over Duke and Gonzaga, Mark Pope‘s group seemingly dead in the water before clawing back in miraculous fashion.

They’ve earned the benefit of the doubt, no choice but to bite your tongue in those backs-against-the-wall moments. It’s a staff that has proven it’s capable of making effective and timely adjustments and a roster that has proven it’s capable of responding and executing, no example greater than that 18-point second-half Hail Mary throw and catch in Seattle two weeks ago.

Thing is, miracles are miracles for a reason. By their very definition, they are highly improbable and extraordinary events, explained only by something divine. When you come to expect or rely on them, reality has a funny way of smacking you upside the head. That was the case for Kentucky against Ohio State, the Wildcats playing with fire one too many times before finally getting burned.

Cutting it down to six with 14:54 to go, the Buckeyes responded with a 5-0 run to push it back to 11 before extending it to 15 with 9:15 to go. The closest it’d get from there is nine before exploding back to 20 at the final horn, putting a bow on the ass kicking to move to 0-3 against OSU in this stupid event and 0-3 in New York, dropping below .500 in the CBS Sports Classic with a 5-6 all-time record dating back to 2014. There were no positive takeaways, UK shooting an abysmal 29.8 percent overall with just 17 made field goals and 18.2 percent from three with just four makes from deep — all season lows by a country mile.

Actually, that’s not totally true. There is one major positive takeaway, and it’s really the only takeaway that matters from the loss. Kentucky finally learned what happens when you sleepwalk into a game against high-major competition expecting everything to figure itself out, taking the first punch instead of dishing it out because you think you can as the bigger, stronger, more skilled fighter. It learned what happens when you allow another team to control the pace and make the momentum-swinging energy plays, set the tone on the glass despite coming in as one of the worst rebounding teams in the country and dominate in bench and paint scoring.

As exciting as the early-season comebacks were, they also masked all of those damning foundational concerns we saw against competition with a pulse. The same can even be said about the lone loss up to this point at Clemson, a game Kentucky, again, found itself getting bullied in the first half only to paint a pretty picture late by evening up the rebounding numbers and flirting with another comeback. This was the first time this season the Cats had no choice but to hang their heads in demoralizing defeat, and it’s probably a good thing considering what’s coming in SEC play. Again, this Ohio State team just got 38-pieced by Auburn a week ago. Thinking this stuff is fun and games and playing without a lick of urgency in this meat grinder of a league is a good way to get run off the floor — maybe over and over again if they’re not careful.

This is a good Kentucky team that had a bad night in New York City while Ohio State had a great night. Bruce Thornton is the truth, a human wrecking ball who went for 30 points on 8-13 shooting and 13-14 at the line with four rebounds and three assists in 38 minutes — incredible performance there. Then you have Juni Mobley stepping up in Meechie Johnson’s absence, confidently firing away under the bright lights of Madison Square Garden en route to 15 points. You have to tip your cap to the freshman guard there. And how about Aaron Bradshaw in his revenge game? The former Wildcat made his first appearance since November 19, was booed every time he checked in and still finished with 11 points on 5-6 shooting. He was an early spark off the bench, giving the Buckeyes a ton of energy in 18 strong minutes. The ‘too little’ gesture directed toward the Kentucky frontcourt was earned.

Point being, you’re not going to win a lot of games when your opponent shoots 56.6 percent from the field. You’re going to win zero games when your opponent hits that mark while you shoot 29.8 percent overall and 18.2 percent from three. Thank goodness for that 27-32 finish at the line or things could’ve gotten really ugly.

This is not a game where you throw the film away and move on, punting toward the holiday and SEC play. It’s a chance to count up those early loose balls Kentucky didn’t come up with and the turnstile defensive effort, the 16 missed layups, .970 points per possession and the 43.3 percent scoring rate. It’s a chance to find the juice, energy and fight Mark Pope said the Wildcats were missing inside Madison Square Garden — and continue to miss in the first half of these name-brand games, for whatever reason.

The Wildcats are fine, but a good, long look in the mirror would do this group good over Christmas break.